Mayor Sayadi wants ML to stay, saying it helped improved city peace and order
Breaking News • 16:30 PM Tue Dec 10, 2019
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By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera
Police and military authorities conduct checkpoints in most major highways in Mindanao.
COTABATO CITY – If she had her way, Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi prefers that Martial Law in Mindanao stays.
“We want the retention of Martial Law because of the atrocities in the nearby municipalities,” Sayadi said.
Sayadi recalled that on the first week of November this year, the city was alarmed over reported sightings of suspected ISIS armed men roaming in the nearby town and reported to have stepped inside the city perimeter.
Cotabato City was also a victim of mall bombing during the New Year’s rush on December 31 last year blamed by authorities to ISIS-inspired group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Two died in the bombing and dozen other shoppers were hurt.
Cotabato City is one of the City throughout the country that implements religiously a curfew starting 10:30pm to 4:00am. It also imposed locked down during emergencies.
Guiani-Sayadi said several people were punished for violating the curfew ordinance. Several crime offenders were also arrested during the implementation of curfew.
She said implementation of curfew ordinance will continue even without Martial Law.
“The curfew is a local ordinance, it will continue,” Sayadi said when asked if the curfew in the city will be lifted once Martial Law in Mindanao expires on December 31.
Pres. Duterte on May 2017 declared martial law all over Mindanao following the bloody Marawi siege. (FC)